Whole spices of cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and cardamom pods are toasted in a pan to release their aromatic flavours, then ground to a powder. This is how we made it. It is a spice blend widely used in Indian cuisine, from curries and lentil dishes to soups. It can be used alone or with other seasonings. Indian cuisine is highly influenced by it.